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Wax motor

Wax motor

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Comments (37)

  • limaoscarjuliet
    Wikipedia page has a small error. It shows an actuator (i.e. wax motor) described as thermostatic radiator valve https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax_motor#/media/File:Thermisc...These are two separate things: thermostat will close and open based on surrounding temp., the actuator on the other hand opens and closes based on energizing a heating element that is driven by a separate thermostat.Wax motors are pretty cool things. They rarely fail and do their job even in damp environments. I take care of my better half's hotel with approx 100 of these installed and we replace one of these once every couple of years.
  • palmotea
    If you want to see one in action, I found this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sApyrDEXGAI
  • alexpotato
    The greenhouse vents example reminds me a lot of a float valve (or ballcock).It's a simple mechanism that used buoyancy to either open or close valves as water level changes in a container.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballcock
  • cbdumas
    I'm surprised this page doesn't mention the automotive thermostat which uses the same principle to control the flow of coolant between the engine block and radiator in an ICE vehicle.
  • kazinator
    The expansion of paraffin wax is substantial. I have experience wax potting guitar pickups as well as bicycle chains. I use a skinny, tall tin can for this, placed in boiling water. When the liquid wax solidifies, it not only pulls away from the sides of the can so that the resulting ingot slides out freely, but a void forms in the center. The top surface has a depression and a deep hole in the center.
  • WJW
    Using this as a greenhouse vent actuator is pretty cool. It just makes so much sense.
  • bonkabonka
    Big Clive took one to bits some years back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPuvhnIoz2g
  • rogerdickey
    Wax elements are also used in thermostatic valves for faucets (to keep faucet temperature constant given variable hot and cold mains): https://rogerdickey.com/the-ideal-faucet/
  • post_break
    My mini truck uses a couple of these with vacuum lines to control the choke and EGR. They are expensive to replace for obvious reasons.
  • moron4hire
    Objects like this make me think of grimdark (steam|diesel)punk works like the video games Dishonored or BioShock. It feels like there's a touch of occultism or corruption whenever one creates a device that exploits analog side effects to create machines in a closed, black-box package.
  • curtisblaine
    I have this in the greenhouse that came with my house. Seeing its roof closed in fall after it had been open all summer made me question my sanity.
  • ck2
    now go blow your mind with the first known conversion of electrical to mechanical energy via "Franklin Bells"TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE years agoin 1752, wow(but they had no idea why it worked)* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_bellsBefore the storm, the device would ring to remind Franklin, who had been obsessed with the study of lightning, urging him to chase the lightningha "chase the lightning" needs to be a catchphrase
  • IshKebab
    I once had an interview at PA consulting where they asked one of those questions where they have "the answer" but their question isn't well specified enough to lead to that unique answer. They kept adding conditions, but I hadn't ever heard of wax actuators before. (I was like 19 or something - didn't get that job!)